The "Hidden" GPS Mod
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The "Hidden" GPS Mod
I have always hated portable GPS systems bc they require the mount to be on the windshield and so after my first one got stolen i have been looking to make it a little more hidden.
ok so i got the idea from dpodo's thread on putting the GPS into the sun visor.. well from what i found out, the 4th gen sun visors are made much better then the ones we have in the 3rd gens so i had to get sort of creative. The visor on the 3rd gens are only stuffed with foam and a piece of cardboard.
Well here are some pics of my process that ive done and its still being worked on so that the final product will look almost like factory. Well let me know wat u guys think...
Still missing the bordering frame to keep it held in and a flush perfect look... if i cant get it to work out then ill just stick with the mounting of picture #3.
ok so i got the idea from dpodo's thread on putting the GPS into the sun visor.. well from what i found out, the 4th gen sun visors are made much better then the ones we have in the 3rd gens so i had to get sort of creative. The visor on the 3rd gens are only stuffed with foam and a piece of cardboard.
Well here are some pics of my process that ive done and its still being worked on so that the final product will look almost like factory. Well let me know wat u guys think...
Still missing the bordering frame to keep it held in and a flush perfect look... if i cant get it to work out then ill just stick with the mounting of picture #3.
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Looks good! Care to show how your routing power wire all the way around to the cig lighter? I could not even put my Nuvi on the drivers side of my Tundra because the power wire was so short.
#4
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Cool idea. But what about at night when you wouldnt necessarily want the sun visor to be down? And it seems like it wouldnt be as easy to glance at while its way above your plane of sight. I like the idea though.
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i have a nuvi 200w and well i havent worked out all the wiring to the cig lighter but i have an extra charger from my old MIO so i think im just going to splice the two wires together so that it is long enough or i will just route it to the battery.
Ya i figured that since i dont use it that much that the sun visor being in the way wouldnt be too bad. I figured at night it wont be too bad since the visor can go up quite a bit and down if needed to be seen. The speaker can be heard from the other side so i could fold it up and use that but i just wanted something different then just putting it on the windshield. Its not perfectly ideal but since my car got broken into i try to make everything as hidden and out of sight as possible to all those thieves lurking around.
Ya i figured that since i dont use it that much that the sun visor being in the way wouldnt be too bad. I figured at night it wont be too bad since the visor can go up quite a bit and down if needed to be seen. The speaker can be heard from the other side so i could fold it up and use that but i just wanted something different then just putting it on the windshield. Its not perfectly ideal but since my car got broken into i try to make everything as hidden and out of sight as possible to all those thieves lurking around.
#6
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Not a bad idea. Personally, I would not mount my gps in the visor, but if it works out for you, that's all that matters. I agree though, the windshield mounts suck...that's eye candy for a theif.
I hardwired my nuvi 500 to turn on w/ the key and mounted it here. Visability is great for me and passengers. Plus it's out of the line of sight of passerbys:
I hardwired my nuvi 500 to turn on w/ the key and mounted it here. Visability is great for me and passengers. Plus it's out of the line of sight of passerbys:
Last edited by Rock Slide; 05-20-2010 at 01:40 PM.
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#9
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I have the same gps and havent used it for a couple months because I hate it up on the windshield.
This is a great idea and am seriously thinking about doing it this weekend.
The power cord for my gps is about four feet also. So I may have enough length..
This is a great idea and am seriously thinking about doing it this weekend.
The power cord for my gps is about four feet also. So I may have enough length..
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ya mine is pretty long... i think its aobut the same length but i figured if its not then i can splice it. i have so many mini-usb cord laying around my house. Well i was given the gps and 2 windshield mounts so i can use it in another car if i want bc ill be able to take the gps out if needed.
rock slide: i saw ur pic a while back of where u mounted it and thought it was a kool idea to put it there but i just dont feel comfortable anymore leaving anything that can be seen through windows.
rock slide: i saw ur pic a while back of where u mounted it and thought it was a kool idea to put it there but i just dont feel comfortable anymore leaving anything that can be seen through windows.
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so i just got it mounted up to test it and it works great since the cig lighter turns the system on when the car is on and off when i turn the car off. Ill get some pics up tom of it mounted and hopefully ill have pics of the final product by this weekend.
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ok rock slide so do u think u could let me know how u did the hardwire to ur garmin? i was talking to a friend and he told me that i wouldnt be able to splice the two cables together and get the power source to work properly... i saw they have a hardwire kit on overstock but id like to save as much money if i dont need it.
#16
If you don't want to hardwire you could always just get an extension....just an option.
EX: http://www.amazon.com/RoadPro-RP-203...=pd_sim_auto_2
EX: http://www.amazon.com/RoadPro-RP-203...=pd_sim_auto_2
Last edited by Mauzer; 05-21-2010 at 07:36 AM.
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ya i thought bout that... just dont really have any money right now since i got tires and im bout to order some wheel spacers. Trying to see what i can get away with doing with the materials i have laying around
#18
Off Topic: what size spacer are you going with? Did you not have them on before? (I thought you were already running the 285's)
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ya i was running 285s before with with the tires i had before i didnt have rubbing but i do now with the bfg ATs... im gonna get 1.25" spacers either all pro or spidertrax. Im not completely sure if i want the spidertrax ones bc i might change wheels and so i will need a spacer without the center bore lip.